Brickbats and bouquets

mollie, I gave my ex dil a brickbat!

I was called in for an Interview with DWP Fraud Officer, turned out I should never have been "picked on" as I had already provided all information 18 months before & it had been verified

I spend a very enjoyable hour "putting the world to rights" once he'd checked everything was in order. Maybe it helps that I was a Civil Servant before I took Early Retirement

I've come across many kind people within the NHS. I'm always polite & friendly, I believe you get that reflected back but some do go the extra mile

I had my PIP Interview last year, noticeable improvement in staff attitudes, I only just scrapped in for payments. Also my Interview with DWP regarding "Fitness for Work" was short & sweet.

The Ministry of Pensions who are handling an extremely complicated problem for me (had lost all my international work documents, including my National Insurance number). When I called to ask how things were progressing and apologized for doing so, I was told "Madam, you are our bread and butter."

Bouquet to the dental receptionist who has moved appointments around to accommodate me as my own , long awaited, appointment time is exactly the same time as I need to attend a family funeral. She was so helpful.

Not a brickbat in sight...how nice!

That's lovely nonnie there are still good people about and it's nice to hear about them,
Miss adventure think I would have cried too ?

A huge bouquet to the staff of North Merchiston Care home in Edinburgh, my Mother has been a resident there for quite a few years now. The staff are kind, helpful and efficient, I have never been made to feel guilty when I phone as they know I do not travel much now so cannot visit.
They even helped my oldest son who has mental health problems when he went through a bad patch.
They are great

Bouquet to DS1's Headway 'worker' who looked after him so well and helped him get back to a good, if different, life and listened to his Mum when she got upset. And his PA who is fabulous, I wish he would marry her!! And, to the NHS who have given him unfailing support and excellent treatment.

Brickbat to his flipping exwife who brought him and some of his belongings home after his stroke and then b****red back home to Japan and disappeared into the ether.

My GP who is wonderful. Won't go into details but he goes over and above, he even arranges for someone to call me with the next appointment. No idea why I am special, no one else can get an appointment with him.

Number 2

Rex Johnson jewelers in Birmingham. Having failed to think of anything suitable to buy each other for our Golden Wedding Anniversary next month we went into their shop in Brum on Monday to see if they had anything which appealed. We were there 4 hours! First they took our coats as it was hot, then they gave us coffee, next we were taken to an area where we could sit in comfort and be waited on. A while later after DH and the owner had been reminiscing about the 'old days' they opened a bottle of prosecco which we drank with the help of the owner. We sold him our tickets to a show on Friday night which we cannot go to and he gave us a good discount on our purchases. By the time we left we had discovered so many things in common and hugged as we left. I think this is the first time since our son died that we have been able to talk freely and even quite enjoy meeting someone.

I'd like to give bouquets to everyone everywhere, of all races, faiths and none, who rise above the mean, petty and squalid bitterness so often displayed on social media and elsewhere, to give support to those who have nowhere to turn. These selfless acts are not headline news but they're there, in every corner of every society. Although I have never been a recipient, I recognise that those, often small acts of caring and support, mean the world to someone somewhere.

The thousands of people in the UK who work hard and do their job to the best of their ability, who are also very good/outstanding at their jobs but don't demand huge salaries, or a bonus.They are taken for granted by others and patronised by some. the conditions they work in and the resources they have at their disposal are decreasing but no one listens.
I am thinking about nurses, teachers, police officers, fire officers and others in the service sector.

To posters here who have supported me with kindness in a very dark time x

Like Teetime , my husband who has put up with me for over 50 years. I have had so many problems and have so many fears and phobias that I am filled with wonder that he is still here.

To my d a bouquet most definitely she is our rock and such an amazing person. Feel very proud to have achieved some thing. Now my grandaughter ......

I would award a bouquet to my local surgery. My DH was fretting about a flu jab and so I phoned the local G.P. I was booked in the next day and he was also booked in for a flu jab and and asthma check up. Both were free and when I arrived very early they slotted me in between other appointments. Everyone was friendly and efficient and went 'over and above'. Brilliant.

Sorry - that, of course, was a huge bouquet

The train driver, conductors and two passengers who picked me up and took me to a bench when I'd fallen on the station platform and yelled for help - I'd fractured my shoulder and bruised my head. The train was delayed by around 15 minutes and the trainee conductor waited with me until the ambulance arrived. It happened back in September but I will never forget the support I received that day.

I would award a bouquet to the trainee GP I saw this morning. She saw me early as she had a cancellation, but more to the point she is doing a good job. She had to check with an experienced GP before giving me a prescription but I think she's on her way to being a caring doctor.

Sorry gone I gotta should read going to

Brickbat to the estate agents who sent my DH a text after his son died offering condolences and then wanting to know who was gone I gotta to pay the rent he owed!

My husband - 39 years this Saturday of putting up with me and I know how bad that has been at times.

for my DMIL who gave up her life to care for her parents and down syndrome sister. This was over 20 years ago. Her parents past away 10&12 years ago. Her sister on Saturday. She sat with her for 7 hrs after she'd past, waiting for the doctor . She still didn't want to leave her on her own. I have so much admiration for this lady.

grannyactivist well done for starting this thread. I hope it gets lots of posters.

Oh sorry! That was long!

The lady who dealt with my daughters council bungalow after her death. She emailed me straight away to offer her condolences and ask if there was anything at all she could do. (She had been the person to take my daughter to view the bungalow originally, and said it made her day to see someone so grateful and deserving)
I had a complicated standard letter come through telling me how to terminate the contract, and it just weeks before Christmas. I phoned, and the man was quite unpleasant on the phone, telling me that I needed to empty the place out quickly, as they had been patient and they were now losing money. He gave me two more days grace, and said they would be inspecting the property and letting me know what needed doing.
(Sorry, this is getting long!)
I explained that I dont drive, and dont know anybody to help me with moving the larger stuff, and I also have my grandson living with me, who didn't want to go to the property, so I was in a fluster with it all.
He said I would have to speak to his superior, and passed the phone to the same lady who had emailed me...
She said that she perfectly well realised my situation, and had no intention of pushing me, and I asked how long I would need. I plucked a date out of the air, and she told me that the council closed for Christmas on the 22nd, and asked if that would be suitable for me. She stressed that the offices would be shut, so nobody would be going there after that, and told me to hand the keys back to her on that date, which was almost another 3 weeks she gave me.
She asked me to hand the keys to her, and said she wouldn't be arranging an inspection.
I handed the keys back to her, and she told me it was her absolute privilege to have met my daughter, and told me to phone and ask for her if I needed any help at any time.
She was so kind I cried all the way home! So.. for Cheryl.